A pair of pistols once owned by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, intended for his suicide, have been sold at auction for €1.69m (GH₵ 28.2). The sale took place at the Osenat auction house, near the Fontainebleau palace, where Napoleon attempted to take his life in 1814.
The pistols, created by Louis-Marin Gosset, exceeded expectations, fetching between €1.2m and €1.5m. France’s culture ministry has classified them as national treasures, banning their export and requiring the government to make a purchase offer within 30 months. The buyer remains anonymous.
The gold and silver-inlaid pistols feature an engraved image of Napoleon and were given to his grand squire, Armand de Caulaincourt, after Napoleon’s failed suicide attempt. They have remained in the Caulaincourt family until now.
Auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat noted that the sale includes the pistols’ original box, powder horn, and other accessories, offering a glimpse into Napoleon’s darkest moment. Napoleon memorabilia is highly sought after, with one of his iconic tricorne hats selling for €1.9m in November.
Napoleon’s tumultuous history includes his rise to power, exile, and eventual defeat at Waterloo. He died in 1821, following his second banishment to the island of St Helena.
